Faculty & Staff

"Great teachers and coaches make it possible for students to stretch beyond the ordinary."

OLENA KILCHYK cello

Olena Kilchyk, native of Odessa, Ukraine, graduated from the Odessa State Music College and the Odessa State Conservatory. Since the age 14 Olena was the winner of numerous concerto competitions. While in Ukraine, she was a principal cellist and soloist of the Acedemia Odessa Chamber Orchestra and Virtuosi of Odessa Chamber Orchestra. She also worked for the Odessa State Philharmonic and Odessa Opera.

After immigrating to Canada, Olena received Master of Music Degree in Cello Performance from the University of Calgary. In 2000 she was the winner of the Department of Music Concerto Competition and performed with the U of C String Quartet. She had the opportunity to study with such renowned cellist as Shauna Rolston, George Nikrug, Tania Prochazka, Raphael Wollfish, Aldo Parisot and Amanda Forsyth. Olena was invited to perform at the Banff Summer Festival, Resound Festival, Enbridge Festival, Orford Summer Festival, U of C Chamber Music Festival, Mountain View Festival and Bach Festival.

Olena has been a member of the Prince George, Okanagan, Red Deer and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra as well as Sinfonia Alberta Chamber Orchestra, Baroque Modern Chamber Orchestra, Players Chamber Ensemble and Saint Crispinis Chamber Ensemble.

Ms. Kilchyk toured extensively throughout Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Canada and China. She is a co-founder of Sempre la Musica Chamber Ensemble, Helia Chamber Ensemble, Denali Duo and Bel Canto Strings. Many of her performances have been broadcast on CBC and other radio and television networks.

Presently Olena is the principal cellist for the Calgary Bach Festival Society. In addition to her performing schedule, Olena has a very busy teaching studio. She is a Branch instructor and faculty member of the Conservatory at Mount Royal University.

Diane Lane violin

Diane Lane was born in Claresholm, Alberta. Ms. Lane began her violin studies in Lethbridge before attending the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music in Calgary. While studying there, she had the privilege of working with many internationally renowned artists.

Ms. Lane graduated from McGill University with her Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Yehonatan Berick. During her studies there, she had many performance opportunities and played under the direction of, among others, Charles Dutois. She continued her studies with Edmond Agopian at the University of Calgary and graduated with a Master's degree in violin performance.

Ms. Lane has participated in a number of music festivals and competitions. She spent fall of 2004 at The Banff Centre as a resident where she collaborated with many renowned musicians. She has returned to Banff many times since, both as a soloist and chamber musician.

Ms. Lane co-founded Players Chamber Music Ensemble and is a member of The Lily String Quartet. She is an active orchestra and chamber performer and plays with various ensembles in and around Calgary.

tom mirhady cello, Amici Cello Coordinator

Originally from Vancouver, cellist Tom Mirhady received his Bachelor of Music degree from McGillUniversity and Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School of Music. He joined the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 1979 and has also played with the Edmonton and Vancouver symphonies.

He has taken part in many chamber music performances in Calgary and was a founding member of Kensington Sinfonia and the Springbank Trio.

For 12 years Tom Mirhady was an instructor for Calgary's Suzuki Talent Education Society and he has been teaching at the Mount Royal University Conservatory since 1999. Since 2008 he has been teaching a music appreciation course, ‘Evenings with the Calgary Philharmonic’, through the University of Calgary’s Continuing Education department.

carolyn parker Administrative Assistant

Carolyn ensures the smooth operation of classes on Mondays, and will be the first point of contact for any administrative issues on Monday afternoons.

Jeffrey Plotnick violin

The greatest influence of Jeffrey Plotnick's musical life was Sigmund Effron with whom he studied at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. "My philosophy of teaching is quite simple. My own experience of benefiting from the generosity of a great teacher makes me want to make a positive difference to all the young people I work with...I have had the tremendous luck of coming in contact with wonderful people when I most needed it...I hope to be of value to the young people following me."

Now Principal Second Violin of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr. Plotnick honed his orchestral skills in orchestras in Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Caracas, Venezuela and undertook postgraduate studies in New York City with Charles Joseph.

For twenty-seven years, Mr. Plotnick has contributed to the cultural fabric of Calgary. In addition to many solo performances with the CPO and the Calgary Bach Society, Mr. Plotnick has appeared as guest artist and clinician at Lehigh University (Pennsylvania). In October 1998, Mr. Plotnick participated in a cultural mission to Kazakhstan, which included solo performances for its President. Mr. Plotnick is the founding conductor of the Mount Royal Intermediate Strings. He has served on the faculties of the University of Calgary and Mount Royal College as well as the Banff International Youth Orchestra Festival and the Strings & Keys and Valhalla summer music institutes. He is in demand as an engaging and enthusiastic music festival adjudicator.

Theresa Plotnick 
violin, viola, Coordinator of Violin and Viola, founding director

“Two passions in my life  led me to my calling as a specialist in working with young string players: my years of study of the Suzuki method,  and my love for the viola. I believe that every child has the right to excellent instruction and that children bloom at different stages.  I see teaching music as a tool to teach self discipline, critical thinking skills, values, and in short, how to be a better human being. Nurturing each student and providing a strong role model for them through their developing years is important to me and that relationship is as important to me as musical results from the student.”

Ms. Plotnick combines an array of performance experience with a dedication to furthering young students. After earning a music degree at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, she played professionally in orchestras in Dayton, Cincinnati, Erie and Caracas, Venezuela before moving to Calgary in 1982. Ms. Plotnick performs frequently as a freelance violist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Bach Society, Calgary Festival Chorus, Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, VAD Ensemble and numerous chamber groups. She is a founding member of the popular Allegra String Quartet.

Her teaching philosophy is informed by an inclusive combination of traditional and Suzuki pedagogical styles. Ms. Plotnick was on the faculty of the Suzuki Talent Education Society for seventeen years and served as coordinator of the Mount Royal College Junior Academy Program until 2007. She is a frequent guest clinician and adjudicator at workshops, summer programs and festivals. Currently, she maintains a large violin/viola studio while serving as a violin/viola coordinator of the Amici String Program.

Keiko Takahashi
violin, Amici librarian

A sense of adventure and the lure of the magnificent Rocky Mountains brought Keiko Takahashi to Calgary as a young graduate of the famous Toho Gakuen Music School in Tokyo, Japan. She was trained in the European-style and did not encounter the Suzuki philosophy until she was invited by Linda Case to join the Suzuki Talent Education Society in 1978. She taught in this program for seventeen years and also acted as its chief administrator during her tenure as Acting Director. Enrolling in the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan at age 12 changed her life. She loved orchestral playing and wanted to play in a professional orchestra. Years later her dreams were realized when she was recruited into the first violin section of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and made the first of several moves to Calgary. She has since become a busy freelance violinist in demand with many performing organizations including the CPO, Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra and the Red Deer Symphony. She also performs in various chamber ensembles, musical and theatre groups throughout Canada, United States and Japan. Her all-time favorite job was playing the Japanese Tour with the New York Philharmonic and Leonard Bernstein for 3 weeks In 1979.

Her large private studio of violin and viola students embodies an adapted Suzuki method. She introduces note reading and scales early, includes duets and chamber music and stresses the individuality of each student. Her philosophy is all-inclusive: if a child likes to play, she is happy to help develop their playing skills. Her motto: "Do your best".

In the Amici String Program, aside from teaching and coaching, Ms. Takahashi has also taken on the responsibility of music librarian.

Po Yeh Manager

The Manager of Amici is Po Yeh, who is responsible for day-to-day coordination of activities.